Washington lawmakers are locked in a debate over whether to reconsider a child welfare law that critics claim is contributing to a rise in child fatalities and serious injuries. The unfolding controversy highlights growing concerns about the safety of vulnerable children in the state’s welfare system.

Authorities are intensifying their search for Travis Decker, an ex-soldier wanted in connection with the tragic deaths of his three daughters. Decker failed to return the girls to their mother on May 30 and is now believed to have been spotted in Washington.